Venus

Minutes to Manhattan

---

On the other side of the world, Marissa Guerrero was lying fast asleep on New Year’s Day. The past night had been a whirlwind. After months away studying abroad at Columbia University, the young baroness had gone back home to Europe to spend the holidays. Her Spaniard father, Monègasque-Argentinian mother, Belgian stepfather and very mixed twin sisters were glad to see her, excited to be told about her life in the United States. In between many official appearances, luxurious parties and family outings, time had flown by, and the dark-haired beauty soon found herself in attendance to King Albert’s New Year’s Eve ball at the Prince’s Palace in Monaco. Surrounded by her much more prominent and well-known blue-blooded relatives, Marissa drank, danced and enjoyed catching up with her loved ones. However, there was something secretly annoying her. In each conversation she engaged in, a single question stood out from all the others:

“So, Marissa: how is America?”

It was the very question that would exasperatingly follow the young woman everywhere that night. Every relative or acquaintance was eager to hear all about her experiences in the foreign country. Did she like it? Did they treat her well? Was it anything like home? Did she miss the European lifestyle? And to everyone that ask, Marissa gave the same answer: she loved it, and although she indeed missed home, she wouldn't trade her life in New York for anything in the world.

In the streets of the Upper East Side, Marissa didn't have to worry about having her every move followed and documented by the paparazzi like she did in Monaco and Spain. Unlike the rest of her royal family, her decisions on studying abroad had granted her the privilege of privacy: one that was very hard to come by for blue-bloods. By keeping a low profile and an image of ‘the invisible baroness’ since her early teen years, the raven-haired beauty had saved herself from constant scrutiny and pressure from the media the rest of her relatives faced. In America, she could be just another face in the crowd: and that's how Marissa liked it to be.

Of course, all good things had come to an end... of sorts.

“Soooo…” Marissa’s older cousin Pauline Ducruet began, green eyes shining with curiosity. The young women stood in a corner of the elaborate palace ballroom, where they had been exchanging stories from the months spent apart between glasses of champagne. They were joined by Pauline's younger half-sister Camille Gottlieb. “Richard Davis, eh? I must admit, I did not see it coming."

“Richard Davis indeed…” Marissa replied through gritted teeth, forcing herself to give her distant cousins her best fake smile.

That was the second most frequently asked question of the night.

Ever since the tabloids got hold of the news that she had begun dating the youngest child and only son of the real estate mogul a few months ago, the two had become the subject of plenty of articles and ‘exclusives’. The decision taken had caused Marissa’s quiet life in America to be slightly disturbed, which was something she didn't enjoy. Thankfully, Alexander Davis had quickly interceded in favor of the young couple by paying a large sum of money to keep the tabloids off the backs of his son and his new girlfriend, but even with this nothing went back to the way it was before. Although the bribes were successful and she was no longer being followed or the focus of things, Marissa was now even more vigilant and cautious about her every step. Now, she was careful even with the simplest of life’s pleasures, like buying coffee in the mornings from her favorite barista at Sprinkles Café.

It was an annoying price to pay… But it kept everyone happy.

“He is a beauty, that one.” Camille mused aloud, staring off into space as if she was envisioning Richard’s attractive face.

“But that does not matter.” Pauline quickly interfered, looking serious. She put a hand on Marissa’s shoulder, her expression that of a mother giving advice to her offspring. “External beauty will only last for so long. As long as he is nice and makes you happy, that should be enough.”

Marissa bit back a snort. Although she and Richard got along ridiculously well, she was well aware he was not nice, nor he made her happy in the way they were assuming he did. That was a story she hoped would never see the light of day.

She was graciously saved from saying any further lies to her cousins by the announcement that midnight was in the horizon. The members of the Grimaldi dynasty filed out of the palace's ballroom -with it's high ceilings, chandeliers and murals- and into the slightly more modern main courtyard. Prince Albert, Marissa’s third cousin, leaded the countdown, and soon they were down to seconds. Suddenly, midnight was upon them at last.

As the castle bells echoed through the night, signaling the twelfth hour and the arrival of a new year, Marissa Antoinette closed her eyes and made a wish. Fireworks of every color began to fill the sky. At that moment, her thoughts were all the way across the ocean and back in New York, with the one young man who’d stolen her heart with a single smile.

She hoped that, wherever he was, she would be in his thoughts too.

Minutes to Manhattan

Reserved for Marissa Guerrero de Massy

Crooked Young - An Altered Lies Production

_{Featuring Heather Duclerc}

---

Heather’s companion didn't bother to provide his own name. Instead, he surprised her by launching straight into a short version of his life story. Judging by the ferocity with which he spoke about it, it was obvious that he wasn't one to say these things aloud, but that whenever he did the words came from a place of frustration and bitterness. Strangely, he reminded the young woman a lot of herself, back in the early college days in which she would rant her family frustrations at her roommate/ex-girlfriend Stacy, only so they could end up in bed together as a way of consolation.

It was weird and surreal to see a reflection of oneself in a stranger.

The young man started out his rant with comments about his sister, and how his parents accepted her even if she was the one that gave them the most headaches. On this manner, Heather remained neutral and refused to form an opinion. From the few things he’d said her about this Ava girl, she was pretty much the Mossos version of Heather- minus the acceptance part, of course. Christopher and Marietta would never accept anything less than perfection.

Then he switched gears to focus on his brother, who turned out to be the same guy that was the source of her cousin Audrey’s never-ending soap opera. According to this guy, Alexandros was the family favorite no matter how many times he screwed up. He was also apparently a manwhore who didn't protect himself. That particular bit of information gave Heather cause for concern (as seen by the frown now visible between her brows), especially because she knew Audrey had been intimate with Alexandros. She would very much cause bodily harm to anyone that messed with any of her family members- no matter how annoying they could get with her. Even so, Heather couldn't help but sent up a silent prayer: May God bless her cousin with his holy protection from all evil and illness.

It was in this moment when the guy chose to look at her. From the dead serious look on her face, he probably thought she was displeased about his tone, because he chose that moment to finish off his rant. He let out the rest of his pent-up anger by letting out a snarl and destroying beyond recognition the last bit of his cigarette.

There was a moment of silence before Heather spoke up slowly. “Well… Looks like you could use another cigarette…” the young woman commented, starting to pull out her lighter and another round of cigs from her handbag. However, she was stopped by the young man’s mention of her name and his comment on how he would need something stronger if he was to get through the rest of the evening. When she turned to him with a questioning look in her green eyes, the dark-haired woman noticed the blond male had pulled out a small, dainty vial from his pocket, and was waving it tantalizingly in the air for her to see.

Heather took one glance at the vial with its powdery contents and felt her the corners of her mouth turn upward. How convenient was it that the one person who chose to join her in this moment of relaxation happened to carry around one of her old solutions to ignore the world and its ridiculous demands? Drugs and an unknown, handsome face sharing similar family issues like her own... It was as if destiny was conspiring for this particular Thanksgiving to be a rather interesting one.

With the smirk still in place, Heather motioned for the guy to pass her the vial. “How do you think I got through coming home for college breaks?” she said, in answer to his earlier comment about her Delilah, while she opened the vial and scraped a bump of the white powder with the nail of her index finger before passing it back. The dark brunette loved her sister to death, but she was the first to admit that the munchkin’s high-pitched voice was only tolerable up to a certain point.

“A toast: to dysfunctional families.” Heather declared, raising her finger up at the male as if it were a shot glass. “Bottom’s up.”

The young woman ducked her head, placed the back of her pinkie fingernail with the white powder under her right nostril, and took a long, abrupt snort.

She felt her eyes widening as the effects of the fairy dust hit her in record time, and she blinked rapidly as her widened pupils adjusted to her surroundings. “Shiiiiiit… That’s some good stuff right there. Hit the spot instantly.” Heather commented, staring at the vial in amusement. “It's good I only did a bump, ‘cause any more than that would have probably knocked me the hell out,” she chortled, wiping her nose with the side of her index finger and giving a few sniffs to make sure no evidence of her misbehavior remained.

She turned to the male with a relaxed smile, her serious demeanor now lessened- no doubt influenced by the drugs in her body. “So, Fairy Godmother, we should probably head back inside before my sister decides to bless our ears with her heavenly screeching again.” Heather said teasingly, looking at the guy with a mischievous expression, lip biting included.

Family, Love and Heartache (WolfLover and Dirty Pretty Lies)

---

Diego Javier and Diana Graciela were born in Monterrey, Mexico, to mechanic Diego Mendoza Sr and housekeeper Guadalupe Sanchez. The Mendoza-Sanchez couple welcomed Diego first, the firstborn son named after his father. Three years later, Diana made her arrival to compete the family, named after her grandmothers. The brother and sister duo were raised in a close-knit, humble household, surrounded by friends and family in their working-class neighborhood.  They were never rich nor dirt poor: they lived happily and gratefully with enough funds to cover their basic neccesities, never forgetting to count their blessings as taught in the Catholic Church they attended every Sunday. However, there was a damper on the life of this family: Diego Sr. was fond of alcohol. He worked long days at the shop, and the moment he came home he had a beer in his hand. Although he never got physical with his wife or children, the alcohol would make him intolerant and more prone to shouted arguments. This would scare Diana and irritate Diego Jr, while a resigned Guadalupe was left to calm the beast.

It was probably one of these sudden bursts of anger that ultimately caused Diego Sr.'s death of a stroke. He was rushed to the nearest hospital after complaining of a strong chest pain, bit even though the doctors attempted to save him, it was too late. Devastated, Guadalupe, Diego Jr and Diana were left without the male head of house. This proved to be a challenge. Guadalupe's occupation was not enough to cover the expenses of the family. Money was starting to run dry. It was then when Julia, an old friend of Lupe's, suggested the family make the move to the United States. Their housekeeper job was better paid After a lot of thought and paperwork, the Mendoza-Sanchez family arrived in California. Diana was eight. Diego Jr. was 11.

The family arrived at Julia's humble California home knowing very little English, but with an incredible will to build a better life for themselves. The siblings were enrolled in a local school, in which they learned the language quickly and were soon in level with their peers. From the start, it was clear that Diana was the model student of the household, earning excellent grades all throughout her school years. Diego's were good, but not outstanding, as his smarts were not in the academic department but in the technical field of mechanics. Meanwhile, Lupe was earning a much bigger paycheck, saving every penny she could for the future. The three of them lived with Julia for a year before they eventually had enough to move to a place of their own.

As the siblings grew up, they decided on career paths. Diego Jr was always certain he wanted to be a mechanic: his father had made sure to pass on as much knowledge as he could. He found a job after school in a nearby shop, and the hours spent with his father at the old Monterrey were finally put to use. After high school, he attended a technical school for two years, earning himself an associates degree. He rose the ranks in the California mechanic scene, and now worked in one of the most popular shops in the area.

On the other hand, Diana found her passion in teaching children. She had begun working as a babysitter since she became a teenager, saving all of her money for a car and studies The young woman applied to a variety of universities, but after much deliberation ultimately decided to attend a community college until she had enough finances to cover her two last years in a university.

In the summer before she began college, Diana was racking her brains, trying to figure out a way to earn more money while she was to be studying full time. It was pure luck that one of the families for which Lupe work for -the Hemingways- was looking for a nanny for their younger children, and they were to pay a high sum to the elected employee. Lupe told her daughter, and after a brief interview, Diana Mendoza became the Hemingway nanny.

Family, Love and Heartache (WolfLover and Dirty Pretty Lies)

@WolfLover That's quite a big family 😂 I love your characters too!

Also, I was thinking that maybe we could change the JC idea and do another plot line with Diego and Lorna instead. Will PM you.

Family, Love and Heartache (WolfLover and Dirty Pretty Lies)

Diana Graciela Mendoza Sanchez | 18 | April 26 | College Student / Nanny | Primary school teaching major (K to 3rd grade)


Guadalupe Sanchez | 45 | Housekeeper


Diego Felipe Mendoza Sanchez | 21 | October 7 | Mechanic | Associates degree from a tech school

Crooked Young - An Altered Lies Production

As Heather extended her hands to expertly light his cigarette, the young man commented that it was best to start young. “Touché.” she replied simply, putting the lighter back in her clutch.

She continued to mindlessly blow smoke circles, staring out into the never-ending blue ocean, enjoying the peace and quiet of it all. However, out of the corner of her green eyes, she noticed the young man shamelessly staring at her. It was as if he wasn't even fazed by the gorgeous sunset stretching out in front of them and into the distance. All he seemed to be interested in was her.

Well, that was weird.

Heather turned to look straight at him. To her surprise, the handsome stranger sitting beside her didn't even pretend that he wasn't staring. His gaze remained on her, now locked in her emerald eyes eyes. Heather raised a questioning eyebrow at him, and in response got… A flirtatious smirk.

“What?” she asked him bluntly, looking away and taking a long drag of her cigarette.

“You don't seem to be as uptight as the rest of the Huntsberg clan... Or you could be really good at hiding it.”

The corners of Heather’s mouth turned upward and into the shape of a smirk. It was a common observation made by people when they put two and two together and figured out to which family she belonged to.

“You’d be surprised.” Heather answered mysteriously. She let the words hang in the air, taking another drag before answering. “Once upon a time, in the beautiful city of Philadelphia, I fit the mold of a picture-perfect Duclerc daughter. Then I got to college and stopped caring.” she said matter-of-factly, adding a shurg at the end of her statement. Having just noticed her cigarette had reached the end of its life, the young woman extinguished it with the heel of her nude pumps and threw the stub into into a nearby bush. She gave the young man a long look up and down, silently studying him for and second before turning back to the ocean. “Looks like the same could be said about you.” she told him quietly, remembering the unknown family she’d seen around and assuming they were his. It was in the eyes.

There was a pause when only the leaves could be heard rusting before the brunette spoke up again. “Name's Heather.”

---

---

Holding hands, the young couple exited Audrey’s bedroom and made their way back to where the rest of the guests were. They were seen by Alexandros’ family, who offered them enthusiastic waves. Audrey waved back at them, noticing the triumphant glow in Adrianna’s eyes, the satisfied look im Ava’s face, and the less than excited look in Elijah’s. Another pang of guilt rippled through her, but was quickly distracted from it by Alex’s comment about Delilah.

Audrey smirked, playfully swatting his arm as they entered the drawing room. They had let go of each other's hand beforehand as to avoid any awkward questions. “Seriously, though, she's a pro. I always tease her she will be a formidable boss one day. Lils is never amused.”

As if on queue, the expectant crowd at the drawing room was asked by Elisabetta to be seated in the dining room, that dinner would be served. Excited murmurs rippled through the guests, which followed all the way to the dining room. It was here where Audrey and Alex were separated, each taking a seat in opposing sides of the table. The young woman sat beside her father and Romina, while her boyfriend sat beside his mother and brother. The chatter in the dining room died away as the plates were served, and after the Thanksgiving prayer had been said (by Delilah, to no surprise), the guests finally dug in.

“So, Audrey.” Arthur began in his ever cheerful tone. “I was talking to young Alexandros earlier, and he mentioned he attends Beverly Hills High. Did you guys happen to know each other before today?”

“I - uh-”Audrey stammered, looking around at some her fellow diners. She hadn't expected to be put in the spotlight so quckly, much less in front of her whole family. Ava Mossos had a mischievous smile in her face, but a look from her mother instantly quelled her. Romina was looking amused, while Delilah had a case of the silent giggles. The Huntsberg girl secretly prayed the floor would ope and swallow her. “I mean, it's a really big school.” she contined, still unsure of whether to lie or not. Finally, her eyes landed on Alexandros, and she read the reassuring look on his face. It’s okay.

“But, um, yeah, we have. He's okay.” she told her father, brown eyes falling back on Alex with a soft smile, her gaze playful. “He’s a pretty cool guy, but he has a huge ego.”

Crooked Young - An Altered Lies Production

Heather Duclerc wasn't a fan of family gatherings. Although she loved spending time with her cousins, exchanging stories of loves found and lost while sipping mimosas at Audrey’s ocean view balcony, she despised the uptightness of the family’s adults. They always seemed to ask the same stupid questions: What do you plan to do after college? Are you still single? Why are you still single? Is there any special someone lingering around? And on and on and on... Yuck!

It always made her so angry! Why was it that her family members insisted that she had her life figured out already?! It had been the same way all throughout the trip to Beverly Hills. Her parents were adamant in her having her life together. It wasn't enough that Heather had graduated in the top ten of her Business class, that she’d landed a job with one of the most prestigious finance companies in Beverly Hills, or that she was a semester and a half away from earning her Master’s degree in Finance. Noooooo, they wanted to see her settled down, furthering her education or even getting married soon.

Why couldn't they understand she was only twenty-three, and only wanted to live her life her way?!

And so there she was, sitting in a bench well hidden from view by rose bushes in her cousin’s garden, smoking a cigarette. Nicotine always helped her simmer down when things became too overwhelming. Her picture-perfect parents would oppose, of course, but this was a thing Heather didn't give two rats as about. The dark haired woman puffed out smoke in neat circles, playing around with it. Heather savored the loneliness, staring out into the ocean and feeling the cool November breeze in her smooth skin.Then, out of nowhere, her moment of solitude was interrupted.

“Got an extra?”

A male voice. She took a moment to acknowledge the person standing a few steps away from her, and when she did, she was surprised to see that it was the young man who had been sitting with her cousin when she'd arrived. Heather’s hazel-green eyes examined him briefly: from his icy blue eyes, his sharp features yet boyish face, his expensive yet shabby ensemble, and his disheveled blond hair. He seemed to be… Not as uptight as the rest of them, so she decided that a little company wouldn't hurt.

Heather curiously cocked her head to the side. “Aren't you a little too young to be smoking?” she asked him. However, she quickly smirked at him teasingly and produced another cigarette from her small but expensive clutch. “Here.” she said, handing him the item he had asked for. After a few seconds if rummaging through the clutch, the young woman pulled out a dainty lighter. “Need a light?”

---

---

Audrey Huntsberg wasn't an anxious person by nature, but the silence that hung in the air after she'd popped the question made her feel like that. There were times in which it seemed he would speak up, but all Audrey got in return was a coy smile. All the while, the young woman's head was racing. Had she been too straightforward? Had she asked too soon? Did he feel the same way she did?

Finally, Alexandros spoke the words that sealed their pact: she was impatient, they couldn't go back to way things were and... They were official.

He’d said it so calmly, so sure of it, that it took Audrey a few seconds for the words to sink in. Official… That meant that Alexandros Mossos was now Audrey Huntsberg’s boyfriend. He was no longer the man she fought tooth and nail to have, no longer the man she loved and hated at the same time, the man that made her feel happy and angry and crazy… He was her boyfriend

’Well, shit.’

“Aaaaaauuuuuudreeeeeeyyyyyyy, we're starting dinner soooooooonnnnnn!”

A familiar, high-pitched voice called out from outside the door, interrupting the moment.The Latina’s eyes widened at the sound of the voice, and she immediately shot up from her position in the bed next to Alexandros. The doorknob began to rattle, signaling Delilah’s failed attempts to open the bedroom door. Meanwhile, her older cousin was scrambling to put her clothes back on, urgently gesturing to her too-calm boyfriend -ugh, it felt so weird to use that word!- to do the same.

“Um, why is your door locked? You never lock your door when we’re here. What the heck are you doing up here?”

“I, uh, was dealing with some, uh, private matters.” Audrey replied, a tell-tale edge in the voice she had tried to keep cool and collected.

She heard Delilah gasp loudly. “Oh my God, are you in there with Alexandros?!” The young woman shrieked excitedly. Audrey could picture her silently clapping and giving little hops of joy outside the bedroom door. Her cousin was such a sucker for happy endings in love stories.

“Oh, I don’t know… Maybe I am, maybe I’m not…” the brunette replied with a smirk, shooting Alex a wink.

“Ooooooh, okay! I'll just let you two finish up, then! But we’re about to be starting dinner, so chomp chomp!” And with that, the clinking of her heels on the hardwood floor signaled Lila’s retreat back to the party.

Fully dressed now, Audrey sat down on the bed next to Alex. She carefully put on her heels again, and once finished she stood up to check her reflection in the mirror. The brunette smiled at her slightly smudged mascara and missing lipstick: all signs of a moment of passion well spent. She quickly freshened her makeup and turned to look at her boyfriend with the smile still in place. Her brown eyes were still shining brightly.

“So… I guess we better get going before anyone else puts two and two together or notice we’re missing from the party.” she told him, walking up to him and planting a kiss on her boyfriend’s lips.

Crooked Young - An Altered Lies Production

Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you.

Because you're mine, I walk the line

You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide

Because you're mine, I walk the line.

---

To Audrey’s surprise, pouring her heart out had actually earned her a good response. She knew it the minute Alexandros closed the distance between them by scooting as close as he could to her. The brunette looked up at him curiously, and quickly found herself locked in his stunning blue eyes. Not only could she feel that undeniable electricity racing intensely between them, but there was also anticipation building up. From the way Alex was so silent and lost in thought, she knew that something absolutely groundbreaking was about to happen…

And it did.

Alexandros Mossos, Beverly Hills’ most womanizing playboy, was now looking up at Audrey Huntsberg with something more than just physical attraction. It was similar to… Could it be? Love?!

As it always happened in moments like this, there wasn't much time for the young woman to think things through. Alex had now outstretched his arm in the direction of her face, and Audrey was further stunned when he softly stroked her cheek and declared she knew how to impress. At this, she shrugged, letting out a small laugh of agreement and completely taken by surprise by his sweet gesture. Then, after a heartbeat… His lips met hers.

As it always happened with Alexandros, the moment their lips locked together, Audrey’s body was instantly alight with feels. The goosebumps had made their appearance, and the brunette’s right hand was now on the back of his head, fingers running through his soft dark hair. Soon enough, the sweet kiss had deepened, as had the innocent feelings coursing between the two. Sparks were flying all over again, and before either of them knew, they were down the familiar path of longing and passion they both knew so well. However, as their bodies proceed to become one once again, Audrey could feel there was something different about it this time. The connection shared between them now transcended everything else she'd previously known, inevitably tying them together for a lifetime. This time, the feelings were all the more intense, going on a crescendo until they reached the height of their shared symphony.

In the sweet aftermath, Audrey was nestled comfortably between Alexandros’ arm, her head on his chest. The young woman’s cheeks bore a beautiful rosy glow, and her brown eyes were shining. So much had happened in such a short span of time, but she had nothing to regret. For a while, she let silence reign the room, enjoying every second of the moment being shared between her and Alex.

Suddenly, she looked up at him, her face bearing a soft, sweet, loving expression that had never been seen on her before. “I’m not sure if it’s too soon to ask, but… What does this mean, now? You know, for us?”

She’d hesitated when using that last word, but there was no way that they weren't something after the events that had just transpired. The sooner things were given a proper name and definition, the better it would be for both of them.

Crooked Young - An Altered Lies Production

Whoa, you stress me out, you kill me
You drag me down, you fuck me up
We're on the ground, we're screaming
I don't know how to make it stop
I love it, I hate it, and I can't take it
But I keep on coming back to you

---

After being abandoned by her sister and cousin, Delilah was left alone sharing a couch with a stranger. Although handsome in his own way, there was something about him that put the teen on edge, as if there was something inside him that he wanted to keep hidden. Frankly, it creeped her out a little, so at the moment this was why she was at a loss for words. The awkward silence was soon broken by him, asking her if she was always that ‘obnoxiously loud’.

Lila scowled at the young man, her lips in an annoyed little pout. “Are you always that obnoxiously rude to people you don't know?” she shot back, raising a defiant eyebrow. “You know, you would really get along nicely with my sister. She can be just as rude as you're being to me right now. Also, I'm sure she could use a smoking partner,” she added snobbishly as she stood up, pointing at the box of cigarettes peeking from the top of one of his trouser pockets. “Her favorite place to unwind here is the gardens. I'm sure you’ll find her of you follow the smoke trail.”

And with that, the petite teen was happily skipping away in her Auntie Elisabetta’s direction.

---

Upon asking Alexandros for a moment to talk, the latter snarkily asked if she was sure it was him she wanted to talk to. He was quickly scolded by a swift punch to the ribcage courtesy of Ava, and the brunette smiled internally at the exchange between the siblings.

“Yes, I'm sure it's you I want to talk to.” Audrey replied, sighing impatiently and rolling her eyes.

Thankfully, Alex agreed to speak to her, and suggested that they should find a more quiet place. Audrey nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly with his idea. So the brunette gently took his hand and guided him out of the hallway, up the stairs, down the left side hallway of the second floor and into her bedroom. Not only would there be less noise there, but it would provide them with privacy and the peace of mind of knowing that their conversation wouldn't be interrupted or eavesdropped on. The Latina waited until they were both inside the room before closing and locking the door behind them. She gestured to Alexandros to take a seat on her bed, which he did, while she remained standing right in front of him.

Today, Audrey meant business.

“Look, here's what's going on.” she began, her arms crossed in front of her.“I'm going to put all my cards on the table right here and now. We’ve been playing games for way too long, and I think it's about time we put on our big kid pants and deal with this situation more maturely.” She sighed, tapped her foot nervously three times before continuing.

“Alex: I like you.” Audrey declared, her chocolate brown eyes locked on his. “I really do. I've liked you ever since the moment I laid eyes on you. And, honestly? I've never wanted a person as badly as I wanted you. Truly. Of course, there were images to maintain, so that's why our first meeting didn't go that great. Then the Bianca Thing happened, and I got rid of that envious, slutty bitch as soon as I could so that my way would be nice and clear. That week, we played our little games. And at the end of the next one the locker thing happened, and I thought that maybe, just maybe, something good was about to happen.”

Audrey’s beautiful face turned angry, and even pained. Her arms were no longer crossed, but being used to gesture instead. The change was also visible in the tone of her voice. “You remember the night of my party, when Leslie interrupted us?” she paused for dramatic effect, then continued. “Well, the reason why she did that was to show me a video of you and Janice Nelson getting it on in the office just a half hour after our little encounter in the locker rooms. I took care of that little problem as best as I could, but nooooo, that wasn't the last of it. Then you decided to pull another one of your little stunts by showing up with the mayor’s daughter after a month of being away. Then shit went down with her and her family -which, by the way, I didn't have anything to do with- and you finally come crawling back to me. And me, being stupid as only I could, gave you the one chance and we ended up in bed for the first time.”

Audrey’s face softened up a little as she remembered their first time together, and the warm feelings it brought to her. “I won't lie and said it wasn't good, because it was amazing. I'd never felt such a connection with someone before. And I don't know if you felt that way as well or if this was just some routinary fuck, but I know what I felt. I remember waking up the next morning feeling butterflies in my stomach when I saw you sleeping beside me, hopeful that this meant the start of something that could evolve into more.”

Once again, the Latina’s face hardened. “Then, having Ava tell me all about your womanizing ways during breakfast, I got scared. And angry. And hurt and betrayed and stupid. I didn't want to be just another booty call in your list, so I bailed. I figured it was the only way I could keep myself from getting hurt even further than I'd already had.”

Her voice rose and fell with the matching emotion at her every statement, and her eyes were alight with them as well. “You know what's the worst part? Even with all the bullshit you’ve put me through, I still couldn't bear to hurt you. When your brother came onto me today, I thought ‘Well, here's a chance to finally get back at Alex. Let's take it!’ But you know what happened? One look at your face after him and I kissed, and I was feeling like the biggest piece of scum in the world. That is just how much you mean to me.”

“If you need further proof, here’s one another one: even though I know the huge risk I'm taking by telling you this, -being completely rejected, humiliated, made fun of- I felt like I needed to. Because, deep down, I know that if I didn't at least try to put my ego aside and go for what I really want, I would always question myself the ‘what if’.”

Audrey let out a deep breath, feeling instantly lighter. She'd never realized just how much weight this situation was putting on her until now that She’d finally confronted it and let it out of her system. No matter the outcome, this feeling of peace with herself was a reward enough. She sat next to Alex on the bed, leaving enough comfortable distance between the two. If he wanted to say anything, here was his chance. If he didn't, then at least the air was clear between them.